Mustard and catsup dispenser



y 1952 c. o. NlELAND MUSTARD AND CATSUP DISPENSER Filed June 2, 1'94? M vexv TOR 5y CARA. O- MELA ND ,4 7' TORNE Y convenient.

Patented July 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE J 2,605,022

MUSTARD AND oATsUP DISPENSER Carl 0. Niel and, Minneapolis, Minn. Application June 2, 1947, SerialNo. 751,820

2 Claims. (01. 222+159) This invention relates to mustard and catsup dispensers, and particularly to such, as will eliminate unsanitary conditions caused by common use by the public, and which will avoid the usual mess by a well controlled now of the condiments.

The conditions surrounding the use of mustard and catsup from jars and bottles, particularly at hamburger and frankfurter stands. and lunch counters, is anything but sanitary and The common use by the public of mustard and catsup supply, by dipping into same with individual spoons or knives or a spoon in common, is distasteful to most people even though it were not bad for health. It is of course a means of spreading disease, and with the condiments exposed to flies in the containers as is usually the case, there is additional danger of spreading disease. There is frequently difiiculty in dispensing from catsup bottles, as the catsup dries in the neck of the bottle, and it is necessary toinvert the bottle and strike on the bottom of the bottle with the palm of the hand. If this works, it often results in a splattering of catsup on the table or counter and sometimes on persons. Without a device for a well controlled flow of a proper portion of condiment, a frequent messy condition cannot be avoided. This is particularly apt to happen in case of children.-

Oneimportant object of my invention, is to provide a condiment dispenser particularly for ,mustard and catsup, that will keep the supply which although possessing the desirable features stated in the preceding objects, is simple and may .be cheaply manufactured.

Other objects will be apparent from the description and appended claims.

For a full disclosure of my invention, reference is made to the description following and to the drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a part sectional elevation view of the dispenser.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on enlarged scale of the discharge nozzle of the dispenser, and also showing open position of same in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2.

stantially uniform thickness.

working against a spring l8.

In the. selected embodiment of my invention which is hereby disclosed, I provide substantially a cylindrical shaped container [0 with a hollow interior, made of molded rubber or. equivalent flexible substance, with a flat bottom ll so that it will set upright with great stability, and with arestricted top portion l2 provided with a shouldered opening I 3, in which is snugly but detachably fitted a tube M of plastic orv other rigid but preferably transparent material. Thetube His curved in part so that the end of same is inclined at a convenient angle for use. The container I0 is preferably made with colors so that yellow is employed for mustard and red for catsup, making the contents known at aglance. Except .for the shouldered portion around the opening l3 and a rim construction around the base, the walls of the container are made of sub- Compression of the resilient container forces condiment through the tube M. The tube]! extends Well down into the container 10, so that theflast serving is readily obtainable by the natural graspiof the hand in picking up the dispenser, which compresses the container andforces it out through the tube. At the end of the tube,'I provide a discharge nozzle [5 with screw threaded connection to the tube, an orifice I6 and a plunger 11, The orifice I6 is preferably round but may be otherwise shaped.

.It may be rectangular extending crosswise, to

produce a flat ribbon output of condiment, if so desired. The spring [8 is so tensioned, that when the container is compressed, the plunger 11 is forced into the end of the nozzle 15, providing clearance of the orifice 16, allowing a portion of condiment to be dispensed. When the compression ofthe bulb is released, the plunger ll immediately closes the orifice l6 and seats itself in the opening of the tube l4. To obviate any vacuum in the container, air bleeders l9 are provided in the plunger ll. Also, indentations 2.0 are provided in end of tube I4, so that if inward convergence of bottom causes contact of same with end of tube, the operation is not hindered.

The container quickly assumes its normal shape,

when the pressure of the fingers iswithdrawn from the sides of the elastic body, and that porstainless steel, but same may also, except for the spring, be made of plastic.

From the foregoing, it is apparent how the dispenser is constructed. The use of it, depends merely on squeeze action between the fingers, to eject a quite constant fixed amount of the condiment. This serving is moderate in amount and is sufficient for most users, but if more is desired, the operation is repeated. To fill the container, the discharge nozzle i5 is removed by means of the threaded connection, and the container filled by compressing container to expel most of the air therefrom, and after inserting the end of the tube into the condiment, the container can be released and by expanding, will draw the condiment into it. It may also be filled by removing the entire tube assembly, and using a funnel placed in the opening 13. The device is readily completely disassembled, so that it is easily washed and kept clean and sanitary. It is of stable proportions, so it cannot be readily tipped over, and even though this should occur, it is spill proof because :of the automatic closing of-the orifice, when not in use. It is also completely unbreakable, if dropped on the floor. Although the greatest need for dispensing mustard andcatsup in a convenient and sanitarycnanner,

is perhaps at hamburger and frankfurter stands and lunch counters, the dispenser will also fill a need in all restaurants, and in homes, on picnics and camping trips. A threaded cap may be provided for the end of the tube l4, and the discharge nozzle [5 removed, while the filled dispenser is transported, as in a lunch basket. A sleeve slipped over the nozzle, will also similarly serve the purpose. All in all and under all conditions, it dispenses the condiments with great nicety and in controlled amounts.

While I have shown'and described a preferred form of my invention, it is obvious that many changes, which are within the scope of my invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the member but with the closed end in reverse posi- 0 tion thereto, the cl'osed end of said second member being adapted to engage a seat formed in the endof said tube but having an air channel construction by-pa'ssing said seat to maintain atmospheric conditions in said hollow 'body to rapidly normalize the shape thereof when in use,

"a-colnpres'sionspring'confined within said second 'memberand positioned aga-ins't the inside of the closed end of saidfirstmember, a discharge orifice in the side ofsaid first member so constructed that said second member normally positioned by said spring forms a closure therefor but said member .being yiieldabie .to pressure produced by compressing :said .hollow body thereby opening said onifice, :said tube communicating -a withthe interior "of .said body and adapted to conduct the contents from said :body in response to compressive action applied to said body, -said tube being provided with a bend toposition said nozzle at a convenient dispensing [angle to one side of said body, said tube being provided with indentations at its end inside the body to prevent any vacuum seal between the end of the tube and said body, said tube consisting of substantially transparent material so that status of contents is thereby disclosed, said body having a fiat bottom to stably maintain said dispenser in an upright position, but having a heavy shouldered portion surrounding the tube to stably position said tube with respect to the interior of the body, said body having specific color impregnation into the material to correspond substantially to the color and be indicative of the substance to be dispensed.

2. In a dispenser for condiments and the like, wherein a compressible elastic hollow body is employed, having a tube with one end detachably mounted and communicating with the interior thereof; a nozzle detachably mounted on the outer end of said tube and comprising a tubular member with a closed end so mounted, a second tubular member with a closed end slidably fitting within said first member but with the closed end in reverse position thereto, the closed end of said second member being adapted toengage a seat formed in the end of said tube. a. compression spring confined within said secondmemher and positioned against the inside of the closed end of said first member, a discharge orifice in the side of said first member so constructed that atmospheric conditions insaid device after each use, whereby the shape of the hollow body is normalized instantly.

- CARL O. .NIELAN'IJ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED s rAtmrs PATENTS Date Number Name 150,260 Scollay .et a1. .Apr. 28, 1874 217,841 Wilson- July 22, 1879 614,744 Nettleton Nov. 22, .1898 672,384 'Marvin Apr. 16, 1 1,151,329 Audett et'a'l. 111.1%.24, .1915 1,154,163 Baildu "Sept. 21, 1915 1,272,838 Baluta July 16,1918 1,656,763 Sibley ;.Jan. 1'7, .1928 1,709,949 Rasmussen etal. I. .Apr.23, 1929 1,860,318 Keebler 24,1932 2,011,742 Weber Aug. 20, 1935 2,040,091 Keller May :12, 1936 2,158,375 Miller May 16,1939 2,165,860 Killmeyer 1 July111, 1 939 2,187,564 'Bagley Jan. 16, 1940 2,197,689 Fromm Apr.'16,"1940 2,214,290 Ward "Sept. '10, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 210,902 Great Britain :Feb. 14,1924 454,061

Germany Dec. .28, 192'? 

